They say that the devil is in the details.
That was certainly the case during the pool design committee’s open house on Dec. 1.
The committee members did an excellent job mingling and engaging with attendees, explaining the inner workings of the facility. The atmosphere was light, positive and informal. However, there was no time or space given to a formal sit-down session.
This may not seem like a big problem. After all, in addition to the committee, two representatives from the architecture firm were there. Attendees were given an opportunity write feedback notes, as well.
The problem is that it is important for those who shaped the vision for the pool to provide reasoning and justification for that vision publicly.
Not holding a formal question-and-answer session was also a missed opportunity for members of the community to have a conversation with themselves. Some people may have needs in the pool that others wouldn’t consider to be big issues.
For instance, the pool’s new design calls for separate, isolated showers in the women’s change room. This was an issue for several women who use the current pool, because they know how much traffic goes through during transition times. The feature was unique to the women’s change room; both the men’s and family change rooms feature group showers. By making a judgement on these spaces, subtle messages were being sent about how women should behave and view themselves and their bodies. Anyone who wanted to make a statement about this should have had an opportunity to say it in an open space so everyone could hear and acknowledge it.
There were other examples of ideas that could have been successfully discussed in an open forum. The pool’s construction and operating costs are still quite high. Can it be operated effectively? And what about options for powering it sustainably?
This open house was the last opportunity for the community members to come and offer critique on the pool’s design. If this was it, it should have been more than a cordial meet-and-greet. It needed some teeth.
